Improvement in gas-burning furnace for steak-generators



@geiten tatrs a'tnt @fitte JOHN T. RICH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters PatentNe. 82,249, dated September 15, 1868; antedated July 8, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN 'GAS-BURNING- FURNAGE FOB. STEAM-GENERATORS.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that I, JOHN T. RICH, of Philadelphia., in the county of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Furnaces for Steam-Generators; andI do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a. front elevation, partly in section.

Figure 2 is a side elevation, partly in section.

Figure 8 is a plan of the steam-blower.

Figure 9 is an elevation, partly in section, of the same The same letters are employed in all the gures when indicating the same parts. u

This invention relates to the construction of furnaces for steam-generators. In the application now made, I set forth particularly a furnace designed for burning coal; Modifications of the plan adapted for burning petroleum', as a fuel, are shown in the drawings, but are not especially claimed herein, but will be made the subject of another application.

My invention consists in subjecting the fuel, before. it enters the re-box, toa distillation, under heat generated in the fire-box, and the combustion of the gases thus evolved,.on entering the tre-box, mixed withsteam and air, and the subsequent introduction ofthe residuum into the fire-box, to he burned in the ordinary-manner on the grate-bars.

It also consists in the peculiar arrangement of the furnace, to be hereinafter specically set forth and designated in the claims.

Inthe annexed drawings, A is an ordinary tubular boiler, for generating steam, and B is the fire-box. C is a chute, through which the fuel is introduced.' It is closed in front by a door, J', and extends forward into the furnacein the form of a tube projecting into the {irc-box; that portion of it which is within the {ire-box being nearly horizontal, the exterior portion being inclined, as shown in iig. 2. u

The grate-bars are shown at D, below wh'ichs the ash-pit, the grate-bars being so placed that the coke falling from the tubular chute C will drop upon them.

Doors, H, placed immediately below the chute, are used for cleaning away cinders and clearing the re.

Arches or diaphragme of re-brick, with perforations, K, are extended across the hre-box, dividing it entirely, the arches extending from wall to wall. The perforations are extended over the entire area of the arches, at close intervals, to permit the gases in rising to pass freely, and insure their thorough distribution and combustion.

Combustion may be conducted with either a natural or an artificial draught. In the latter case, I carry steam from the dome through a pipe, L, and discharge it in a jet through the blower F. The latter is formed by a series of concentric conical funnels, N, into the centre of which the orifice M of the steam-pipe L discharges the steam. These funnels discharge thefair or stealm passing through them into a pipe, F', formed by an extension of the external case F. These concentric funnels are so arranged that each outer one shall be longer than the next inner one, by which the air and steam entering through the inner one are caused to diverge more andmore as they en counter the current entering through the outer spaces, filling and packing the air inathe pipe F', through which it is forced by the jet into the chute C. This pipe may be closed, more or less, by a damper at M. A pipe, N2, is extended from the blower around both sides ofthe chute, and Vcontinued into the fire-chamber below the grate-bars, to supply the draught required for the combustion of the coke in the grates.

I prefer to construct. the arch double, leaving a space between the arches, into which space air maybe introduced at P. The double arches are especially necessary when very rich coals are used.

This furnace, constructed as described, is operated as follows:

The coal is introduced into the chute C, and falls upon the horizontal tubular pipe extending into the irebox, where it is allowed to remain, the door J being tightly closed. Being exposed to the heat of the coke upon the gratebars, and also to the heat relected from the lire-brick arches, the coal in the tube, which acts as a retort, will be subjected to distillation, and the gases evolved will enter'the tireboix, and become ignited, mingling with the air andvapor of wet steam entering through the blast.

As the gases are extracted from the fuel in the tubular chute, the residuum of coke will be pushed, by the introduction of fresh coal, from the pipe, and fall upon the grate-bars, where it will be burned'in the ordinary manner. The arches, being heated to a very high temperature, will communicate to the gases, passing through them and the intermediate space, a high temperature, which will insure their perfect combustion before entering the up-talie. y

In commencing lthe operation, the furnace must be irst heated by kindling a wood iire on the grate-bars, and maintaining it until the arches become hot enough to cause the distillation of the coal.

I have found by' experiment that it is necessary, `to the best action of the furnace, that the blast entering through the `pipe F should be discharged from above into the top of the chute, thereby preventing the too rapid distillation of the coal. ,Y

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Se arranging a furnace that the coal shall be subjected to distillation before it enters the fire-box, and

`at the same time so arranging'the draught or blast that the gases thus evolved shall be'thoroughly mingled with atmospheric air, or air and steam within the Furnace, but before entering the fin-box or eomhustionchamber to be consumed, substantially as described.

2. The chute C, extending, in the form of a tube, into the {ire-chamber, and serving asa retort, for the purpose of distilling the coal retained in the tube, by means of the heat of tirelire-box, in combination with a draught-pipe, F F', substantially as set forth.

3. Thesteam-blast F, so arranged, in relation to the tube or retort in which the coal is subjected to disti1- lation, that the wet steam and atmospheric air shall be mingled with the gaseous products of the coal before entering the fire-box, substantially as set forth'.

4. Thearches or diaphragms G, when constructed of a refractory substance, and extended entirely across the hre-bemand perforated with openings K, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. Double perforated arches or diaphragms G, in combination with intermediate openings, P, through the external walls. n

6.- The combination of the chute C, extending into the fire-box, to act as ar'etort in the distillation ofthe coals, and arches or diaphragms G, so located within the -fire-box as to reiiect the heat upon such retort, substantially as set forth. I

Y. lhe steam-blower, constructed with concentric funnels, N, extending successively from the centre, one beyond the other, and discharging the currents passing between them into a tubular extension, F', of the outer ease F, substantiallyA asset forth.

In testimomy whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' yJOHN T. RICH.

Witnesses:

R. MASON, JNO. KENNEY. 

